Thermionic vacuum tube



Aug. 27, 1929. A. E. PAIGE THERMIONIG VACUUM TUBE Filed April 26. 1922 FIG. I

Patented Aug. 27, 1929.-

UNITED STATES ARTHUR E. PAIGE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

a'nnnmromc vacuum TUBE.

Application filed April 26, 1922. Serial No. 556,695.

My invention relates to what aretermed electron tubes, and is applicable to either the biode or triode forms thereof, and for any purpose for which such tubes ma be utilized. However, it is a urpose 0 my invention to provide more e cient methods of and means for radio communication, both telegraphic and telephonic, by increasing, or otherwise modifying, the electric permeab1l ity of the vacuum in whichthe electrodes of such a tube extend. Generally stated; an object and effect of my improvements is to roduce a field of radiant electric energy involving such a vacuum, by means susceptible of cooperation with the electrodes and their circuits, to facilitatethe use thereof.

As hereinafter described such a field of electric energy may be produced by emanations from a radioactive substance, having the function and effect of reducing the effective resistance of the space occupied by such field, or by permanently magnetized or electro-magnetized elements, or by elements functioning as condensers; all capable of modifying the normal electric permeability of the region of their effect.

My invention includes the various novel features'of construction, arrangement and procedure hereinafter more definitelyspeci- In said drawing; Fig. I shows a convenient embodiment of my invention in a triode electron tube comprising an evacuated glass bulb and including a radioactive substance as in the vacuum chamber in said bulb, in coaxial relation with the three electrodes.

Fig. II shows another embodiment of my invention in a triode electron tube, comprising an evacuated glass bulb and including a magnetizable element in the vacuum chamber in said bulb, constituting the grid electrode and forming an electro-magnetic core for the filament electrode.

Fig. III is a fragmentary end elevation of the group of electrodes shown in Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary end elevation of the group of electrodes shown in Fig. II.

F g. V is a longitudinal sectional view of another form of triode electron tube, em-

bodying my invention, comprising a metallic cylinder inclosing the vacuum chamber, and including a permanently magnetized element as the core of the filament electrode in said chamber.

35 Fig. VI is a transverse sectional view of the last named electron tube, taken on the line VI, VI in Fig. V. v

Fig. VII shows a sheet metal stamping adapted to form part of an electrode.

Fig. VIII is a diagrammatic view showing a plurality of such plate elements as indicated in Fig. VII, arranged to function as a condenser.

Fig. IX is a diagram indicating an electron tube included in a magnetic field, created and maintained by means exterior thereto.

Fig. X is a diagram indicating an electron tube included in an electrostatic field created and maintained by means exterior thereto.

Figs. XI and XII are sectional views respectively of a biode tube and a monode tube containing radioactive material.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Fig. I; the evacuated glass bulb 1 has the circular base or shank 2 which is conveniently mounted in the cylindrical tubular metallic plug 3 in which it is rigidly held by the mass of cement 4. Said tubular plug 3 is closed at its lower end with the circular porcelain diaphragm 5, which is rigidly connected therewith by the engagement of the inwardly extending annu ar rlb 6 of said plug 3, which fits in a corresponding annular groove in said porcelain closure 5. Said bulb base 2 has the inwardly extending tubular support 7, formed of glass fused in connection with said bulb and laterally compressed to form a diametrically extending web 8 in hermetically sealed relation with the five electric conductors 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, which are respectively electrically connected with the terminals 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. Said terminals are seated in respective sockets in said procelain closure 5 and are conveniently formed of brass tubes through which said conductors are drawn and to which they are soldered at their lower ends so as to secure said terminals in rigid relation with said closure 5. Said conductor 9 rigidly supports the plate electrode 20, which is a hollow metal cylinder. The conductors 10 and 11 support the filament electrode 21 in 105 the form of a helical coil on the magnetizable metal core 22 which, is insulated by a vitreous coating 23, and in coaxial relation with said plate electrode20. The conductors 12 and 13 support the grid electrode 25 110 1 to create a magnetic field involving said elecwhich is also a helical coil in concentric relation with said plate electrode 20.

Said core 22 may be permanently magnetized or may be electro-magnetized by currents directed through either said filament electrode 21 or said id electrode 25, or both. That is to say; if said core 22 is permanently magnetized, it has the capacity trodes and the vacuum between them independently of the currents directed through said conductors, and that field may be modified, i. e., either amplified or diminished or suppressed by currents directed through said conductors. If said core is of soft iron or some other suitable material adapted to be electro-magnetized; a magnetic field may be produced and modified as above contemplated by suitably energizing all or any of said electrodes 20, 21 and 25. Moreover, as indicated in Fig. III; said core 22 may be hollow and contain a radioactive material 27, for instance, such a radium derivative composition as is employed to coat clock faces. Said electrode 20 may be coated with suitable radioactive material 28. Of course, when used as a container for radioactivematerial, said core 22 may be formed of. nonmagnetic material, such as glass. Furthermore, as radio communication is effected by waves of the order of light, said core 22 may contain an element whose effective resistance is modified by subjection to waves of such order, as selenium or a derivative thereof, and said coating 28 may be or include selenium, preferably of the vitreous t pe.

Although I prefer to include radicoactive material in such relation within the vacuum chamber of the electron tube, as above'described; such material may be applied to the exterior of the vacuum chamber wall, for instance, as indicated at 30 in Fig. I. Although said terminals 14 to 18 inclusive appear to be in equally spaced relation in a diametrical plane in Fig. I; they may be otherwise disposed, for instance, said terminal 14 may be in coaxial relation with said plug?) and the terminals 15 to 18 inelusive be disposed in an annular series with res ect thereto.

ig. II shows a form of my invention similar to that above described with reference to Fig. I, except as to the construction and arrangement of the filament and grid electrodes. In Fig. II; the conductors 10 and 11 support the filament electrode 31, in the form of a helical coil upon the insulating spool 32, which may be conveniently formed of glass or porcelain. In Fig. II; the conductors 12 and 13 support the grid electrode 34 in the form of a coil having its successive turns extending in respective radial planes with respect to the common axis of the group of electrodes; so that said electrode 34 may be formed of magnetizable material, such as iron wire, and the parts thereof extending through saidspool 32 constitute an electromagnetizable core for the coil 31 of the filament electrode. As indicated in Fig. IV; said spool 32 may contain radioactive material 35 through which said core portions of the electrode 34 extend. v

Although such a rid electrode as indicated at 34 in Figs. II and IV may be readily formed of cylindrical wire manually wound through said spool 32 and bent to the form shown; the construction of such radial convolutions as are characteristic of said electrode 34 may be facilitated by punching them from sheet metal as indicated at 37 in Fig. VII; each of the plates thus formed being primarily split at 38, so as to facilitate its insertion with respect to said spool 32. Such plate eonvolutions may be joined in a circular series by electrically welding together the respective split portions of the successive convolutions in the series, to form a continuous coil like the coil 34 shown in Figs. II and IV. However, said plate elements 37 may be enameled or otherwise coated with insulating material so as to be insulated from each other, and alternate plates be connected respectively'to the conductor 39 and to the conductor 40; .thus forming a condenser capable of maintaining an electrostatic field involving the vacuum in which the electrodes extend.

In other words; by the means above described, a vacuum including the electrodes of an electron tube may be involved in a field of radiant energy, distinct fromany field created or maintained by electrical energy transmitted through said Vacuum: Said vacuum may also be involved in a magneticfield distinct from any field created or maintained by electric energy transmitted through saidvacuum: Said vacuum may be involved in an electrostatic field and in a magnetic field created or maintained by electric energy transmitted through said vacuum, by way of said electrons, or otherwise.

Although I have found it convenient to employ electron tubes of the type wherein the vacuum chamber is inclosed in a glass envelop; I prefer to provide evacuated in- The grid electrode 49, intermediate of said filament and plate electrodes, may also be a cylindrical coiled wire in coaxial relation therewith. Said cylindrical plate electrode 47 may form the outer shell of the vacuum inclosure in conjunction with opposite end closures 51 and 52, so that said electrode 47 is exposed to the atmosphere to dissipate the heat which it manifests when included in a circuit which is highly electrically energized. Both of said closures 51 and 52 may be hermetically sealed in connection with said cylindrical late electrode 47, in any suitable manner, either integrally or by means of respective gaskets 54 and 55. However, said closure 52 is in electric connection with said electrode 47, by the conductor 57, so that the exterior terminal 58 may be used to detachably connect a conductor to said electrode 47. Said closure 51 may be formed of glass to permit inspection of the interior of the vacuum chamber 60 without opening the latter. Said filament electrode 45 may be stretched between the terminals 61 and 62 which maybe insulated from said closures 51 and 52 by respective bushings 63 and 64. Said grid electrode 49 is conveniently provided with oppositely counterpart disks67 and 68, which are respectively rigidly connected with the opposite ends of said electrode 49, so that it may be adjustably stretched by and between said terminals 61 and 62, although insulated from both of them by respective bushings 69 and 70. Said grid electrode 49 may be provided with exterior terminals 72 and 73, respectively in electric connection therewith at opposite ends thereof, by way of said disks 67 and 68, but insulated from said closures 51 and 52 by respective bushings 75 and 76. Said vacuum chamber 60 may be exhausted and reexhausted without otherwise disturbing the hermetically sealed relation of its inclosure, by way of the valve body 78, con taining the rotary plug valve 79. Said electrode 47 is preferably coated and sealed with a vitreous material 80. Said material 80 may be radioactive material, or selenium, or may consist entirely of insulating material. Said core 46 may be a permanent magnet, or an electromagnet, or merely a container for radioactive material. I have found it desirable to form the filament electrode of platinum wire coated with barium oxide, because it is advantageously operative at a low temperature. However, satisfactory results may be obtained with filament electrodes formed of tungsten ornickel wire or other suitable material.

Referring to Fig..IX; the electron tube 81 may be involved in a magnetic field between the electromagnets 82, 83, 84 and 85, or any of them}; the effect upon said tube being variable by variation in the polarity of said magnets and in the value of the electric energy impressed thereon by way of the respective magnet coils 87, 88, 89 and 90.

Referring to Fig. X; the electron tube 91 may be involved in an electrostatic field between the late elements 92, 93, 94 and 95, or any of t em, the effect upon said tube being variable by variation in the charge of said plates determined by the electric en ergydmpressed thereon by way of the respective conductors 97, 98, 99 and 100.

Fig. XI shows a tube 101, which may be evacuated or not, and which contains two electrodes 102 and 103, in insulated spaced relation, with radioactive material 104 between them. Said electrodes may be respectlvely variably energized by the conductors 106 and 107.

Fig. XII shows a tube 109 which may be evacuated or not, and which contains the s ngle electrode 110 with radioactive material 111 surrounding the same. Said electrode and radioactive material may be variabl energized by way of the conductor 112.

11 other words; the spaces adjoining electrodes may be subjected to fields of radiant electric energy of any kind, either b means within the respective vacuum cham ers, or exterior thereto.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction, arrangement or procedure herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. An electron tube, with electrodes in a vacuum; and means adapted to produce a magnetic field including said vacuum, including a magnetizable element within said tube and distinct from all of said electrodes but in cooperative relation with and within one of said electrodes.

2. In a thermionic tube, with electrodes in a vacuum; means in said vacuum, adapted to produce'a magnetic field including said vacuum, including a magnetizable element, distinct from all of said electrodes, but disposed as an axial core with respect to one of said electrodes.

3. An electron tube, with electrodes in a vacuum; and means, within said tube, adapted to produce' a magnetic field including said vacuum, including a magnetizable element, distinct from all of said electrodes, forming a closed magnetic circuit and disposed as a core with respect to one of said electrodes.

4. An electron tube with electrodes in a vacuum, including a filament electrode capable of variation in temperature in accordance with the value of electric energy conducted therethrough and forming a coil, and a plate electrode, capable of receiving electrons from said filament; and means, within said tube, adapted to produce a magnetic field including said vacuum, includlng a magnetizable element, distinct from all of said electrodes, but in cooperative relation with said filament electrode.

5. An electron tube with electrodes in a vacuum, including a filament electrode capable of variation in temperature in accordance with the value of electric energy conducted therethrough and forming a coil, and

a plate electrode, capable of receiving electrons from said filament; and means, within said tube adapted to produce a magnetic field including said vacuum, including a magnetizable element, disposed as a core within said filament electrode coil.

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eluding a magnetizable element, forming a closed magnetic circuit and disposed as a core within said filament' electrode coil.

7 In a thermionic tube, the combination with an evacuated inclosure having a double wall formed of adherent films of glass and metal, the metal being inclosed by the glass; of a plurality of electrodes in said inclosure, in insulated relation with the metal portion of said wall; said electrodes including a filament mounted to be heated as a source of electrons; whereby said electrodes are electrically shielded by the metallic wall film.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, thistwenty-first day of April, 1922.

ARTHUR E. PAIGE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. l, 726, 363.

Granted August 27, 1929, to

ARTHUR E. PAIGE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 2, line 38, for the misspelled word "radicoactive" read "radioactive", and line 112, for "electrons" read "electrodes"; page 3, line 104, claim 2, after the word "means" insert a comma; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of October, A. D. 1929.

(Seal) M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

